Spiritual DisciplinesSample

Day 4-Praying with Repentance

Discover: Psalm 51 is a powerful prayer of repentance from King David, as he speaks on the depths of his sorrows and longs for forgiveness and restoration from God. This confession is deeply personal and explains how David wants his heart to be made new and clean. James 5:16 connects the practice of confession by incorporating it into our community by confessing sins to one another.

Learn: Psalm 51 shows the result of David’s heart after the sins of lust and adultery he committed with Bathsheba. Not only did he do this, but he also aided in the murder of Bathsheba’s husband to cover up what he had done. Once he was caught, David was deeply convicted and mourned over his crimes against God. This prayer of repentance shows the sinful nature of man (verse 5), how our response should be towards sin (verses 2-3), and that only God can forgive and save us from our sins (verses 9-10). This awareness from David leads him to beg God for more than mercy or forgiveness; he wants God to create a new, clean heart in him. David knows that restoration requires repentance, which involves a deep, internal transformation. While repentance and confession must be done personally and privately, James 5:16 explains the need to confess our sins in community and pray for one another, which creates a sense of accountability that should be established in groups. This requires much vulnerability and trust, but it strengthens our bond as a Christian community. Praying is not just an individual concern but it is also a communal activity.

Apply: These two passages explain how we should pray in repentance and confession. The first thing we must do is pray privately for forgiveness with a repentant heart. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we should not run away and deny our sins like others may do. Rather, we should run directly to God, acknowledge our sins, confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and run from our sins. Ask God to clean your heart, renew your spirit, and help you walk in holiness. The second thing we must do is confess our sins to each other, hold others accountable, and pray for one another. Many times, we seem like life is perfect, but we are struggling with a crippling addiction or sin. Life groups are the time to be able to share our downfalls and have others encourage us and help us grow in our walk with Jesus. As this happens, we can begin to be set free from the sin in our lives and grow closer to God and others.

· How does Psalm 51:5 explain the nature of sin and what are David’s emotions as he cries out to God?

· In what way does David’s prayer go beyond simply asking for forgiveness?

· What role does the Holy Spirit play in convicting us of sin and leading us to repentance?

· How can acknowledging and confessing our sins privately before God, as well as publicly within a community, lead to spiritual growth?